​I had my one year post check-up on March 20th with Dr. Psutka. He was very pleased with my progress. I can open 32mm now and I am eating a regular diet. My bite has shifted post surgery and I have to keep an eye on that. I asked about the swelling in my left side which comes and goes. He said that due to the incision just below the jaw line, the lymphatic drainage system has been compromised. Fluids are not draining well from head down to neck. He said to keep my head elevated and it should help clear it up. However, if the swelling does not go down, to come back and see him because it could be an infection. My next appointment is not until NEXT YEAR!!! MARCH 2014! If my bite changes any further or if I have any problems, to come see him earlier. I am to continue using my Therabite once a day and to wear my mouth guard at night.​

Note: This post was moved from an old page to change to the new website format. That is why the date shows as 2016. The original post was made March 2013.​

I received an email from a reader who is new to TMJ. I know that many of my readers have had or are contemplating a TMJ replacement, but there are others who have not had any surgery and are looking for help. The National Institute of Dental and Cranial Facial Research estimates that over 10 million Americans are affected. The condition appears to be more common in women than men. The New York times reported that up to three-fourths of Americans have one or more signs of a temporomandibular problem, most of which come and go and finally disappear on their own. Specialists from Boston estimate that only 5 percent to 10 percent of people with symptoms need treatment. On that note, I thought this would be a good time to try to help those who suffer from TMJ by listing some of the treatments that are available to us.MEDICATIONS:The first is pain medications. Everything from over the counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs like Ibuprofen to narcotics like Percocet which is basically Tylenol and 5mg of Oxycodone, Oxycodone (Oxyneo), and Morphine such as Dilaudid (Hydromorphone).. Many narcotics like Oxycodone and Morphine come in a short (4 hour) and long (8 hour) lasting formats.The second is other types of medications that help to reduce pain like Gabapentin (Neurontin) which are nerve related drugs and target the nerves, to Anti-depressents like Venlaxafine (Efexor). I myself am on Gabapentin and it really helps me with nerve related pain.

The third is muscle relaxants like Flexeril. The fourth is anti-nausea medications for those with severe TMJ.

SELF CARE PRACTICES:

Eating soft foods.

Resting your jaw as opposed to talking or chewing gum.

Heat or cold. I was told that moist heat is best. I have one of those old-fashioned hot water bottles. There are also heat and cold packs. I have gel type heat packs where you bend a little metal disk and it causes the gel to heat up. You then boil it to "reset" it. I also have a bean bag that you can heat up in the microwave.

TENS machine. The same little device that you use for physiotherapy on your knee. A low easy setting is best. I have one and used it every day prior to my replacement surgery.

Facial or Jaw exercises. A girlfriend of mine is taking voice lessons and has a device that she uses to strengthen the muscles of her face. I don't know what it is called. I have a Therabite that I use to exercise my jaw and maintain my ability to open my jaw nice and wide. (See the more section of my blog. I have a page on Therabite.)

SPECIALISTS:

A chiropractor and physiotherapist can help to relieve your pain and improve jaw mobility or stabilization. I find that I tense up my shoulder, neck and back muscles from pain and require "adjustment" by my chiropractor to help reduce muscle tension.

Injections like Botox may also help. My surgeon gave me two rounds of "Trigger Point Injections". The first injection helped and lasted 6 months. The second injection did not help. The trigger point injections are very painful. I was given sedation and happened to wake up just as he was inserting the long needle into my joint and it was the most painful second of my life! Luckily I fell back asleep almost instantly but the pain was severe enough to wake me up. I have heard of others who have had the injections without being sedated and they said it was the most painful thing they have ever experienced. My recommendation is that you have sedation if you are planning to get this type of injection. Botox injections are much less painful and do not require sedation.

STABILIZATION SPLINTS:

Many TMJ sufferers have bruxism. We grind our teeth at night. In that case, a nightguard is highly recommended not only to protect the teeth from the effects of grinding, but to help stabilize the joints. Wearing a splint or mouthguard is also helpful to relax the muscles of the face and jaw.

SURGERY:

Of course the last resort after you have tried all of the above and more is surgery such as Arthroscopy.

YOUR INPUT: What other treatments have you tried? Let me know by adding your comments below.

I receive a lot of messages asking me how I am doing now. It's been 2+ years post surgery. I'd say I am doing as well as can be. Yes, I still have pain. Yes, I am still on pain killers and nerve-related medication. However, I am in less pain than I was prior to my surgery. The biggest plus is that I can open my mouth. I can chew soft to moderate foods. I can breathe and swallow better or easier compared to before my TMJ Replacement.

My pain has changed in the last few months. My day-to-day pain is not as bad. However, my pain when the weather changes has worsened. There is a greater difference between the pain when the weather is good versus the weather is bad or changing from good to bad or bad to good. I now get terribly nauseated. If I lie down, it is so bad I feel like the bed is spinning too. The greater the pain, the worse the nausea. I take Metaclopromide (prescription) for the nausea and it does help.

I also cannot sleep when the weather is changing, prior to when the pain and nausea start. What I mean is that I lie down and try to fall asleep, but I can't. For some reason, I can't fall asleep. I don't know if it is because I am anticipating more pain, or what it is. I finally fall asleep at about 8am because I am extremely tired and fatigued.

My bite has also changed since the surgery. It was perfectly aligned post surgery, but it has shifted and is continuing to shift. My front teeth no longer touch. My bite is stronger on the right side and my teeth touch better on the right compared to the left. I continue to wear my night guard every night. My prosthedontist has to modify the night guard about every 4-5 months because my bite is constantly changing. I have found that the night guard has helped to re-align my teeth and bite. It hasn't corrected it, but has made it better. I can't go to sleep without it now. It's funny when I forget to take it out in the morning and try to talk to someone and sound like I have a bunch of marbles in my mouth.

My left eardrum also seems to be permanently plugged. You know how you go in an airplane and your ears plug up and you have to "pop" them, when that's what it feels like. I can pop my right ear, but my left ear will no longer pop. Sometimes it sounds squeaky like crinkly plastic or when you used to get water in your ears when you were a kid from swimming, when I try to pop it. It was so bad one night that even my dog could hear it!

I finally have movement of my right and left eyebrow and forehead. When I close my eyes, I still smile on my right side. The biggest thing that I do miss is my smile. It is much better now that I have more movement in the right side of my face, but it is not as big as it used to be. But at least I can smile!

I never hear my prosthetic joints when they move. Only once in a blue moon it sounds like Styrofoam rubbing together. But in general, they are pretty much silent. The only way I know that they are not my real joints is that there is a slight dent or dimple right above my ear on both sides.

If I could go back in time..... would I have the TMJ Replacement surgery? My answer is yes. It has helped. Yes it was a long recovery but it was worth it. The ability to eat solid food is a big plus!

Let me know if any of you experience greater pain or nausea when the weather changes. Or if you have problems with plugged ears in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to comment on any of my posts!

Today is a very sad day for me. It's 8 am on Wednesday April 2nd as I write this. In 4 hours, I will be taking my eldest dog Wilson to the vet for the last time, and will be sending him on his way to Rainbow Bridge. My heart is breaking and I can't stop the tears. He was such a kind and loving dog with the most wonderful soul. I've been home on disability from work for several years now and my dogs have been my constant companions. He is not only one of my best friends, but my furry child. He is my son since I have no children.

Unfortunately, his back legs are giving out. He cannot lie down or get up on his own. He cries something fierce because he is in pain. He often falls when he walks. Plus his mind is going. I don't want him to suffer anymore. I pray that I am making the right decision to do it now, rather than wait a week or two. I'd rather him go peacefully and without further pain and discomfort.

RIP my Willy-Bear. Mommy will always love you!

For those who are unfamiliar with Rainbow Bridge, here is the story:

The story tells of a green meadow located "this side of Heaven" (i.e., before one enters into it). Rainbow Bridge is the name of both the meadow and an adjoining bridge connecting it to Heaven.According to the story, when a pet dies, it goes to the meadow, having been restored to perfect health and free of any injuries. The pet runs and plays all day with the others, there is always fresh food and water, and the sun is always shining. However, it is said that while the pet is at peace and happy, they miss their owner who had to be left behind on Earth.When their owner dies, they come across the Rainbow Bridge. It is at that moment that their pet stops what they are doing and sniffs at the air and looks into the distance where they see their beloved owner. Excited, they run as fast as they can until they are in their owner's arms, licking their face in joy while their owner looks into the eyes of their pet who was absent on Earth, but never absent in their heart. Then side by side, they cross the Rainbow Bridge together into Heaven, never again to be separated.

LeAnn Rimes had to cut short a concert in Oklahoma when her jaw popped out of place during the performance because of a jaw condition called TMJ, ABC News reported March 24. As as result of her condition, she has cancelled her tour. See the articles at:

I had my 2nd anniversary this month. I happened to see an infomercial for the Nutribullet and decided to buy one as a present to myself. I love fresh greens, but some days I have difficulty eating them. I have done juicing before, but juicing only gives you the juice, it doesn't give you the fiber from the skin and membranes of the food. With the Nutribullet, it emulsifies the food and you get all the fibre, vitamins and nutritients, as if you were eating it in it's raw solid state. It chops it all up into very fine pieces. If doesn't completely liquefy the food, but it does get it into the tiniest pieces so that it is easily drinkable.

I tried the Nutribullet and I absolutely love it. It has replaced my blender. I now have a shake every morning with it for breakfast. As a Certified Fitness & Personal Trainer, I think the Nutribullet is a good idea but you need to have more than just veggies and fruit in your shakes. You need to add a fat and protein source to make it a complete meal or snack.

For fat, you can use one or a combination of oils and seeds. Organic Coconut oil is amazing and gives it a pleasant taste. That's what I use and I buy mine from Costco. There is also flax seeds, chia seeds, or extra virgin olive oil to name a few. For protein, I add a fruit flavored protein powder. My favorite is the Syntrax Nectar brand whey protein isolate. My favorite flavors are Fruit punch, twisted cherry and grape. You can also use pasteurized egg whites. I like a flavored protein because it adds a bit more flavor, doesn't need refrigeration and is an easy way to add a significant amount of protein. For fruits, I love to add mixed berries like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, pomegranate seeds, and blackberries, Pineapple and banana are also great tasting. In the winter months, I use frozen fruit. I thaw out a small amount (2-3 days worth) as I need it and keep it in the fridge. For greens, I tried kale and spring mix but I didn't like the taste. I find the best tasting and nutritionally beneficial greens to use are spinach and broccoli.

If you'd like to add some sweetness, use honey. To add more fruity flavor, I use the little water flavour enhancers in the squirt bottles. Brands include 'Mio", "Crystal Light" etc. The great thing about these is that you can have several bottles in different flavors and add a squirt whenever you want to increase the fruity flavor of your drink.

Here's my Shake/Smoothie Recipe Instructions:

1. Put fruit in bottom of the larger Nurtri-cup that they provide for blending. Fill it half way to the "MAX" line. (If you put the greens first, it often needs shaking while its blending to get the greens down to the blade because they seem to stay at the top.). 2. Add your greens to the "MAX" line. I add fresh organic baby spinach and a few little bits of broccoli..3. Add your fats. I add a tablespoon of flax seeds or chia seeds and a teaspoon of coconut oil.4. I then add a sprinkle of ginger powder and cinnamon which help to regulate blood sugar levels.5. Add water to the "MAX" line.6. Put top on (the blade assembly) and blend it until it pulverizes everything. I do it for about 15-20 seconds.7. Remove the top and add your protein powder. I add one scoop of the Syntrax Nectar.8. Put the top on (the blade assembly) and blend it for about 3 seconds. If you blend it too long, it makes the drink too foamy and it often starts leaking out. 3-5 seconds is all you need to mix in the protein powder.9. Remove the top, drink and enjoy!

This recipe also works with a powerful blender. I saw a blender with 1100 watts of power (Nutribullet only has 600) called Ninja and it was only $139! Great price. If I had known about it, I would have bought it instead of the Nutribullet. If you have a regular blender, you can omit the greens and have a fruit-protein shake. As an alternative to fresh greens, you can add your greens as a powder available at most pharmacies and health-nutrition stores.